Leaders from health care, technology, research, and public health gathered in New York City to explore how preventive care, innovation, and collaboration can advance eye care and improve broader health outcomes
New York, NY — The SUNY College of Optometry Foundation brought together leaders from across health care for its inaugural Advancing Vision Summit: The Intersection of AI, Eye Care, and Public Health, held September 25 at CURE in New York City. The day-long event marked the Foundation’s 70th anniversary and explored the growing role eye care can play in preventive health.
“Through the Advancing Vision Summit, we are creating a space where leaders across disciplines can come together to exchange ideas and build partnerships,” said Dawn Rigney, MPH, Executive Director of the SUNY College of Optometry Foundation. The Summit reflected the Foundation’s commitment to advancing patient care, education, and research while exploring new approaches to improving eye health and access to care.
A central theme throughout the day was the opportunity to move health care toward earlier detection and prevention. In his opening keynote, “Closing the Blind Spot with Healthcare from the Eye,” Microsoft Global Chief Medical Officer Dr. David C. Rhew explored how information gathered through the eye could provide insights into a person’s broader health. He discussed the potential of oculomics and AI-enabled tools to identify health risks earlier, while emphasizing the importance of connecting technological advances with care that benefits patients.
The focus on prevention carried into discussions throughout the Summit. Dr. Felicia Timmermann of presenting sponsor CooperVision joined Dr. Damaris Raymondi for a session on collaborative approaches to childhood myopia management, including the importance of early education and timely intervention. Later, Dr. Monica Jong and Dr. Aaron Goffinet of presenting sponsor EssilorLuxottica joined SUNY Optometry’s Dr. Rahim Bhaloo to explore how AI and emerging technologies could expand access, support earlier intervention, and connect vision care with broader health.
Other discussions examined women’s eye health, the potential for ocular biomarkers to reveal signs of systemic disease, and ways to more closely integrate eye care into population and community health. Together, the conversations underscored the role optometry can play not only in treating vision problems, but in prevention, earlier intervention, and improving broader health outcomes.
The Summit concluded by turning to myopia research at SUNY Optometry, tracing the path from fundamental scientific discoveries to clinical studies and approaches to prevention and treatment. The discussion illustrated a theme that ran throughout the day: research and innovation have their greatest impact when they translate into meaningful improvements in patient care.
The inaugural Advancing Vision Summit ultimately highlighted a broader vision for the future of eye care, one in which the eye can provide important insights into overall health and optometry can play an increasingly important role in prevention, early intervention, and healthier communities.
Sponsors and Supporters
SUNY College of Optometry Foundation is deeply grateful to our sponsors and supporters who made the Advancing Vision Summit possible. It is through their generosity that attendance was free and that any proceeds will be used to fuel sight-saving research, provide essential care to those in need, and prepare the next generation of eye care leaders.
EssilorLuxottica, CooperVision, Jobson Optical Group, Alcon, NFP, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Allison & Stephen Flink, Haag-Streit, MarcoLombart, Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Designs for Vision, and VSP.
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About SUNY College of Optometry Foundation
Founded in 1956, the SUNY College of Optometry Foundation is the affiliated nonprofit organization supporting the mission and future of SUNY College of Optometry. Through philanthropy and community partnership, the Foundation advances excellence in optometric education, groundbreaking vision research, and patient-centered eye care. Its support helps expand access to high-quality vision and eye health services, fund scholarships and student success initiatives, and drive innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of visual disorders. The Foundation’s impact extends from New York City to communities around the world through investments in clinical care, research, and the preparation of future leaders in optometry and vision science. Guided by a commitment to healthcare access, innovation, and public service, the Foundation continues to strengthen programs and opportunities that improve lives, advance eye health, and shape the future of vision care for generations to come.
About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY Optometry) is the only school of optometry in the state and a nationally recognized leader in optometric education, vision research, and patient care. The College prepares the next generation of eye care professionals through its Doctor of Optometry program, residency programs, and advanced graduate degrees in vision science, including MS and PhD programs. As an academic health center in optometry dedicated to advancing eye and vision care, SUNY Optometry conducts a robust portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical research focused on improving diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of visual disorders. Beginning in Fall 2027, the Doctor of Optometry degree will be offered in both New York City and Syracuse, providing students the opportunity to choose where they live and practice. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.
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